Masks of Xipe Totec

From Mexico, possibly 19th century AD

These masks are intended to represent Xipe Totec, a Mexica* god
of fertility, usually represented wearing a flayed human skin.

Recent iconographic studies of the masks suggest that they may
not be authentically Mexica in date. Some of the details of
the scene on the back of both masks are not consistent
with Mexica iconography. For example, the figure (representing
Xipe Totec) has four arms and three of the hands are holding
objects: a spear, a shield and a trophy head or incense bag. In
authentic Mexica representations of Xipe Totec two of the
hands are part of the flayed skin and therefore were never depicted
holding objects. The frontal pose and the earplugs are also unusual
in genuine images of the god.

While these masks could be an unusual example of Mexica
art, it is also possible that they were made in the nineteenth
century to satisfy a growing interest in Mexican art, especially by
collectors and museums. Many pieces collected at the time and
deposited in museums across America and Europe have proven to be
problematic.

*The people and culture we know as 'Aztec' referred to
themselves as the Mexica (pronounced Me-shee-ka).